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Mr. Zieschang, in the pastmonths the subject incentives
for low price airlines at the Frankfurt airport has been
strongly debated. What is the present situation of the
talks with the airlines like Lufthansa?
We continue to be in intensive talks and we make
progress. One must not forget this: at Frankfurt, as an
airline, one can make good money. Here, above average
returns can be achieved, which makes up the attraction
of this Rhein-Main-area airport. The airport is located in
an economically strong region. Unfortunately, airports
like Stuttgart and Cologne/Bonn at a distance of 200 km
and with a stronger presence of low cost airlines, since a
number of years are deviating potential clients from us.
To this we have to react in the competition.
What makes this area around Frankfurt so interesting?
In our area of coverage are living 38 million federal citizens,
that is almost half the population of Germany. This region
economically is very strong and it has a very high purchasing
powerwhich is also reflected in thehighdemand for air travel.
But now it seems that there are certain approaches
between Fraport and the established airlines which
regard themselves as being put at a disadvantage at
this site?
We have always said that we want to have a good
relationship with our customers. We are convinced
that we are offering a high value product. The criticized
costs here is one thing, at this we are working with
our partners. But the truth also is, that the airlines at
Frankfurt can achieve above average returns.
But there is the threat in the room that the airlines,
which are already represented here, are wishing the
same discounts which are now offered to new airlines
like Ryan Air.
With the incentive program we want to generate new
and to the degree possible lownoise traffic. The incentive
program is applied indiscriminately to everybody who is
offering traffic to us. Also, the program is rather limited
timewise, with a discount of 50 % in the first year for
GERMANY
AT FRANKFURT, AS AN AIRLINE ONE CAN MAKE
GOODMONEY
THE CFO OF FRAPORT ABOUT THE DISPUTE ABOUT DISCOUNTS FOR NEW ROUTES AND AIRLINES – DECISION
ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PIER AT TERMINAL 3 IS TO BE MADE SOON
Interview with Dr. MATTHIAS ZIESCHANG, CFO, Fraport AG, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, member of the Board of GEFIU,
Association of Chief Financial Officers Germany; from Börsen-Zeitung, May 3, 2017, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, article
provided by GEFIU, the German IAFEI Member Institute
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